" John Jay, L. L. D., first chief justice of the United States under the constitution of 1789, graduated at King's (now Columbia) College, A. D. 1764, and in 1768 was admitted to the bar. He was appointed to the first American Congress in 1774, Being on the committee with Lee and Livingston to draft an ad-

» Here John Jay spent his boyhood.

>> Compiled and abridged from the Hfe of John Jay by Henry B. Renwick.

COUNTY OF WESTCHESTER. 87

dress to the people of Great Britain, he was the writer of that eloquent production. In the congress of 1775, he was on various important coumnttees, performing more service perhaps than any other member except Franklin and John Adams. In May, 1776, he was recalled to assist in fiaming tlie government of New York, and in consequence his name is not attached to the Declaration of Independence; but July 9th, he reported resolutions in the provincial convention in favor of the declaration. After the fall of New York, and the removal of the Provincial Assembly to Poughkeepsie, Mr. Jay retained his resolute patriotism. The very eloquent address of the convention to the people of New York, dated Fishkill, December 23, 177G, and signed by A. Ten Broeck, as president, was written by him. March 12, 1777, he reported to the convention of New York the draft of a form of government, which was adopted, and many of the provisions of which were introduced into the constitution of other states. From May 3, 1777, to August 18, 1779, he was chief justice of the state, but resigned that office in consequence of his duties as president of congress. The glowing address of that body to their constituents, dated September 8, 1779, was prepared by him. On the 29ih of September, he was appointed minister plenipotentiary to the court of Spain.